Singers:

A host of devotee poets had sung the glory of Lord of the temple ? the great Naalvar Tirugnanasambandar, Tirunavukkarasar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar, Saint Thiagaraja Swamigal, Muthuswami Dishithar and Marai Malai Adigalar. ? This is the 20th Shiva temple in Thondai Nadu region praised in Thevaram hymns.

Festival:

shivaratri, thiru karthigai, masi magam

Temple's Speciality:

Lord Shiva in the temple is Swayambumurthi. Everything is Two in this temple, 2 presiding deities-Aadhipureeswarar and Ottreeswarar; two Mothers-Vadivudai Ambikai and Vattaparai Amman; two sacred trees-Athi and Magizham; two sacred springs-Brahmma and Nandhi theerthams and two puja procedures-Karana and Kameeka. The Shivalinga is a Banalinga here without Avudayar the base peeta. Lord Bhairava graces the temple without His dog vahan. Mother Durga in the goshta wall does not have the Mahishasura under Her feet.

Opening Time:

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Address:

Sri Thiagarajaswami Temple, Tiruvottriyur, Chennai-600 019.

Phone:

91-44 - 2573 3703.

General Information:

Three Mother Devis grace the devotees around Chennai region as Itcha, Kriya and Gnana Shaktis.??Many years ago, a sculptor carried a big rock to make an idol and install it at Tirumangeeswarar temple in Melur.??On the way, the rock split into three.??Shocked sculptor was about to end himself when Mother Shakti appeared before him and directed him to make three idols in three forms and install Her at Melur, Tiruvottriyur and Tirumullaivayil.??The idol installed in Tiruvottriyur represents Gnana Shakti, the second at Melur 15 km from here named Thiruvudai Nayaki represents Itcha Shakti and the third at Tirumullaivayil 25 km from the place named Kodi Idai Nayaki represents Kriya Shakti.??Worshipping the three Ambicas on the Poornima-full moon day at morning, midday and evening (in a single day) rewards the devotees manifold benefits.??These three temples are open for the devotees throughout the day.Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Lord Selva vinayaka.??Mothers Vadivudai Nayaki and Vattaparai Amman grace the devotees from their respective shrines with their own flag posts-Kodimaram.??Saint Pattinathar temple, a little far from Lord Thiagaraja temple is on the shores of?Bay of Bengal.

Prayers:

Devotees pray for wedding boon and for the welfare of children.

Thanks giving:

Devotees perform special abishek and pujas for Lord and Mother with Nivedhanas.

Greatness Of Temple:

A spider, ambitious to build a temple for Lord Shiva, did so with a threadlike material coming from its stomach. It built towers, Mandaps, the sanctum sanctorum, the pots on the tower (Kalasam), the compound wall etc. It was also doing the repairs when its threads were cut in places. To test the determined devotion of the spider, the Lord kindled up the lamp in the temple and burnt the Spider?s work. The spider, seeing its thread temple reduced to ashes, decided to fall on the fire and end itself. The Lord appeared before the spider and held the spider in His hands offering a boon. The spider begged the Lord a place at His feet in the shape of a flame. Lord granted the boon. Towards the end of Thredha Yuga, a snake named Kalan, was worshipping the Lord with precious stones on His head. An elephant named Athi also worshipped the Lord performing abishek with Ponmuhali river water and Vilwa leaves, removing the precious stones on the Lord?s head. This happened in Dwapara Yuga. The elephant and snake were both worshipping God in turn, one undoing the worship of the other. To find the enemy, the snake hid itself in the flowers placed by the elephant. The elephant, happy to see its flowers in order on the Lord began the abishek performance when the snake entered the body of the animal through the tusk and began to screw its head. Unable to bear this torture, the elephant decided to kill the creature inside and also end itself, dashed forcibly against the rocks profusely bleeding. The roaring of the elephant and the noise it made while dashing against the rocks frightened all the beings. Birds flew high. The celestial beings too were frightened. The snake was torn to pieces. Breaking its head, the elephant also breathed its last. Lord Seekalathiappar appeared on his bull vehicle with Consort Uma, granted Sarupa Mukthi (salvation) to both the snake and the elephant. The letter See in Tamil represents Silandhi the Spider, Kalam the snake and Athi (Hasthi in Sanskrit) the elephant. All combined, the place is named Seekalathi.The temple is one among the Saptha Vidanga Sthalas.??Lord Thiagaraja is the main deity of the temple.??A devotee, Elelasingar was keeping some ornaments studded with precious stones to be given to the king.??Two Shiva devotees came to him from Kasi.??Lord asked Elelasingar to give the jewels to the devotees which he obeyed.??When king came and asked for the ornaments, Elelasingar stood dumbfounded when Lord came to his rescue and gave the precious jewels.??Hence, Lord is praised as Manicka Thiagar.??Manickam-precious stones.Serprent Vasuki performed penance in this place as advised by sage Upamanyu.?Lord blessed Vasuki in the form of an anthill.??Vasuki merged with Lord.??Lord came to be praised as Padampakka Nathar.??There is box-like cover above the Lord.??He cannot be touched and hence no abishek to Lord but to Avudayar the base peeta only.??Even the priests do not touch the Lord ? Theenda Thirumeniyar- Lord untouched by human.?Mother Vadivudai Nayaki is facing south.??Of the 51 Shakti Peetas, this peeta is praised as Ikshi Peeta.??Sri Chakra is installed below the idol.??Only Namboodris of Kerala are performing the puja in this shrine.??Pushpanjali Seva is dedicated to Mother at 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. each day with fragrant flowers.??People whose marriages are delayed pray here and contribute for this Alankara.??This is known as Wedding Pushpanjali.After the injustice she was subjected to at?Madurai, Kannagi burnt?Madurai?City?and came to this place with all fury.??When she reached this place, Lord and Mother were playing dice.??To soften her fury, Lord Shiva rolled the dice towards a well and made it fall into the well.??Kannagi got down into the well to take the dice, when Lord shiva closed the well with a rock round in shape.??Kannagi came out in the form of a rock.??Later, an idol was made and installed near this Vattaparai-round shaped rock, hence Ambica is praised as Vattaparai Amman.??Acharya Sankara had also installed the Sri Chakra to soften the fury of?Amman.??Devotees pray here with turmeric and kumkum.The place is closely linked with the life of Sundarar, one among the four celebrated saivite saints and Sangili Nachiar wedding.??While at this place-Tiruvottriyur, Sundarar was happy to see Sangiliar plunged in the service of Lord Shiva and desired to have her hand.??He prayed to Lord Shiva to have her.??Lord advised Sangiliar to marry Sundarar.??She expressed her fear to Lord that Sundarar may leave her half the way as he was already married to Paravai Nachiar.??Lord promised that He would get her the assurance from Sundarar to be ever with her.??Knowing Lord?s design, Sundarar begged Lord to leave the sanctum for a while and be under the Magizham tree when he would make the required promise to Sangiliar before the sanctum.??But Lord advised Sangiliar to demand the promise under the Magizham tree to trap Sundarar.??Their wedding went on.??Thus Magizham bec

Temple History:

A new world comes into being after every pralaya flood.??During one such pralaya, Brahmma wanted to prevent the destruction of the world and performed a Yajna dedicated to Lord Shiva.??Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Agni-fire and became a Linga as prayed by Brahmma.??The Yaga Kunda ? the pit, became a temple.??As Lord Shiva dried the flood water-Ottral in Tamil, the place came to known as Tiruvottriyur.??Lord Shiva being the first-Aadhi- to appear here, He is praised as Aadhi Pureeswarar.

Special Features:

Miracle Based:?Lord Shiva is a swayambumurthy in the temple as a tall Banalinga without the base called Avudayar.?